System of laying subterranean lines of electric wires



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Moden.)

J. T. GOODFELLOW.

SYSTEM 0F LAYING SUBTERRANEAN LINES 0F ELECTRIC WIRES.

No. 272,833. Patented FebZO, 1883.

lll

Nv PETERS, Pham-mangnphw. msnmgmn, n cA 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

(No Model.)

J. T. GOODPELLOW.

SYSTEM 0E LAYING SUETEEEANEAN LINES 0E ELEGTRIG WIRES. No, 272.833.

n Patented Feb. 20 1883 (No Model.)

5 W O L L E nr. D O 0 G T. Tu.

SYSTEM 0E LAYINE SUETEERANEAN LINES 0E ELEGTEIG WIRES. No. 272,833.

Patentd Peb.20, 1883.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. T. GOODPELLOW.

'SYSTEM 0F LAYING SUBTERRANEAN LINES OE ELECTRIC WIRES No.l 2752Patentedeb. 20, 1883.

Sirve( y N. PETERS. Phobmhognphar. wahinlwn. D. C.

FFICE@ JAMES T. GOODFELLOW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM F I AYING SUBTERRANEAN LINES Ol" ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,833, dated February20, 1883.

Application filed January i8, 1883. @To model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES THORN Gooi)- FELLOW, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented anew and Improved System ot'Laying Subterranean Lines ot' Electric Wires,of which the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specih'cation. y

rI`he nature and object of my improvements will be set forth in thefollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings referred to, Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a detachedperspective view of a portion of a tube. conduit, or casing with itsshelves, and showing, also, a side branch of one similar view, showinganother method ot' branching a wire from any sheli'or tier of wires toits termination; Fig. 3, a sectional perspective view of a. p'ortion ofmy improved tube or casing with its shelves and wires in place therein;Fig. 4, a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but with no wirestherein, and with its side opening for a branch closed with aslide-gate; Fig. 5, a det-ached view of a portion ot' one side plate ofmy improved conduitcasing; Fig. 6a perspective view of a triple i'orniot' my improved conduit-casing, showing adjoiningpassages side by side;Fig. 7, a small section or part otl tn v sheet-metal shelves forsupporting wires in the conduit, showing the manner of connecting theends ot' the sheets of' 'metal by riveting; Fig. 8, a similar view,

showing thejoiuing ot' the ends ot' the sheets of metal by means ot'bands or loops passed into edge slots formed in the said sheets neartheir contiguous ends. In Sheet 2, Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of aworking-pit and its man-hole, designed to be placed at intervals alongthe line of conduits land at their intersections, showing a frame withreels th'erein swung into place from overhanging hooks and in positionto feed wire therefrom into a conduit; Fig. 10, a similar view, showingthe rcel-frame and its reels in place theiein from the rear. 1n Sheet 3.Fig. 1l is a horizont-al sectional view ot' a workingpit on the hnel 1otl Fig. 9, showing a reel in position for feeding wire into a conduit;Fig. 12, a plan view ol-` a street-corner at curbstone, with man-holecover, and plan ofworking-pit beneath the man-hole and conduitsbranching therefrom in dotted lines; Fig. 13, a side elevation andpartial sectional view ot' a section ot' wire-carrying hand, with smallsaddles attached thereto, and sustainingl therein a short sectionoi'iusulated electric wire; Fig. 14, a section ot' the saine at the line2 2, Figs. 13 and 15; Fig.15, a top or plan view of the same. Sheet LL:Fig. 16 is a longitudinal vertical section ofan end portion of aconduitthrough line 3 8, Fig. 17, showing casing-shelves and the wiresin place thereupon and the method ot'inserting a new wire; Fig. 17, alongitudinal horizontal section ofthesaine on line 44, Fig. 1G, showingthe several tiers of wires in cross-section as con1 ing out oi' conduitand a new one being laid; Fig. 1S, a central longitudinal verticalsectional view ot' the guide-needle furnished with a clamp at each end,one clamp to grasp the wire to be laid, whiletheotherclasps thedraw-wire; Fig. 19, a bottom view oi the same, showing thefriction-wheels for decreasing the friction ofthe guide-needle upon theold wires as it is drawn through. Sheet: Fig. 2O is a plan view of oneblock ot' ground furnished with my system, showing` fronts of houses inhorizon` tal section, to illustrate a method ol" communieating fromconduit to houses and from house to house. Fig. Z1 is a plan view of astreetcorner adjacent to the working-pit, showing the top or cover ol' aman-hole thereat and the line ot' curbstone, and is really a part ofFig. 2l), designed to render Fig. 23 more intelligible; Fig. 22, avertical longitudinal sectional view through line 5 5, Figs. 2i), 21,and 2e, showing my system, the conduit-casingl (in dotted lines) to helaid beneath the street, also showing the pitch or gradual (.lepressiouof the casing from one worlting-pit to another for running otimoisturein other words, lor its drainage; Fig. 23, also a verticalsectional view through line 6 (i, Fig. 20, having the same object asFig. Fig. 21, a vertical sectional view on line 7 7, Fig. 20, ot`affront cellar-wall and sidewalk, with a branch from the main liueot'wires in the conduit., showing a method of' breaking connectionorswitching the current from a house.

In various of the figures, A is the casing or shell ot' theJ conduit,which is composed oi' parts AA2 A3, (see Fig. 1,) each ot' which partsis shaped in crosssectiou like a cross-section IOO constant contact witheach other, and at the same time to prevent any endwise movement ot' theparts ot' the case A upon each other, and also to form a p acticallycontinuous cleat,

. so to speak,overlapping the joint a, to prevent the oozing orsit'tingot dirt therethrough into the conduit. Still thejoint in thebottom of the conduit permits any moisture in the conduit to escape orto leak awayinto the earth below. For the purpose ot' fastening theopposite side parts ot' thc conduit-case securely together, each ot'such parts is provided at suitable intervals along their ripper andlower edges with outwardlyjiroiecting and interlocking lugs or hooks b bb, and adapted to be secured together by means oi" pins b, (which pinsmay bel simply` short rods ot'iron or a common cut nail,) being driveninto place, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and LI. Itis evident that as thehooks b b b are open the pin 12 can always be reached. as it is exposedior nearlyits whole length, whereby in the event ot' its rusting` in thehooks, so as to render it incapable oi" being driven out. by its end, itcan be cut with a. chisel at the points where it passes from one hook toanother--that is, where it is exposed. 'It is obvious that by thisdevice the use of bolts, with their attendant expense and difficultiesarising` from the rusting ot' their threads, is avoided.

Although I do not confine myself to any er;V act location of the lugs orhooks Z1 b L along the meeting edges ot' the parts of the casing A,still I preferably provide each end ot' each side part A A with lugs orhooks b b, and the middle ot' the opposite side part A with anintermediate locking'hook, b, so that when the opposite side parts ofsaid conduit are secured together the end joints, z, Fig. l, will breakjoint with each other in such opposite side parts ot' the conduit, thussecuring, so to speak, virtually one continuous casing, which willpreserve its alignment and not be apty to haveits said aiignmentmaterially disturbed by the action oi" frost. The inside dimension ofthe conduits, as shown in the various figures, is that of three incheswide and four inches deep. 'I hough of course any desired size may beused.

In Fig. G, showing a triple conduit, the two outer sides A' A" are, thesame as shown in Figs. I, 13,4, and 5; but the intermediate parts, AivA", are :fi-shaped in cross-section, similar to a cross-section ofgirder'iron; andthe various parts ot' such a conduit, whether it bedouble, triple, quadruple, dic., are adapted to be locked together, asabove described, with reference to a single cond uitvi7.., by means oflugs a Wand hooks b b b. The interiors ofthe vertical walls ot' theparts oi' the conduit A are provided3 with longitudinally-arranged ribsc, Figs. 5 and (i, designed to support shelves c', which I make oi lightsheet metal. As indicated by dotted lines at c in Fig. 6, these ribs muybe made solid with the walls oi' the conduit, and of such width thatwhen the parts of the conduit are pnt together said ribs will formpermanent shelf, in lieu oi" the sheetmetal shelves c.

Although I do not contine myself to any particular material ot' which Imake my abovedescribed c0nduit-case, still I prefer to make it ofcast-iron, anti in which case the parts oi" the casing A of conduit andparts made solid therewith can be east solid and without coring, which,in view of economy of production, convenience of handling, andinspection ot' its interior before putting together, is very desirable.By making the couduitof two parts divided through the middle, as shownat a, I am enabled to make both sides from the same pattern.

The shelves c', made of sheet metal, are cut or made of such width aswill adapt them to bc drawn into and out of their places in tho conduitand to rest on the ribs c therein, and their ends are riveted orotherwise secured together, (see Figs. 7 and S.) so as to i'orm, sotospeak, one continuons shelt'for the wires, eX- tendingthewholelengthoftheconduit. rIhese shelves c areinserted in their places b v means oi'ad raw-wire, which islei't in thecouduit when itislaid. This wireisattached toone end ofthe shelf', the end of the shelf inserted in theend ot' the conduit at one of the working-pits, another or severaldraw-wires heilig' attached to the i'irst draw-wire or thc inserted endot' the sheet-metal shelf c', and an operator in the other working-pitthen draws upon his end ot' the draw-wire and pulls the longsheet-xneta1 shelt' into its place upon the ribs c c, the new wiresgoing with it until the inserted shelf' and wires reach the farther endof the conduit. A Afresh drawwire, (one ofthe last ones attached asabove named,) lying above or below the length ot' this shelf', is thenused in like manner to draw in anothershelt', and so on through thewhole series ot shelves. Care should be taken to leave adraw-wire uponor below cach shelf when the latter is inserted, and one also upon thebottom ot' the casing to provide for the subsequent insertion ot'electric wires, as hereinafter more fully described. It is not necessaryto insert all or any of the shelves before laying wires in the conduit,as such wires can be laid tirst upon the tloor ot' the conduit and theshelves above inserted only as they may be required. Although I do notcantine myself to any material of which i propose to make my shelves, Iat. present preter to use what is known to the trade as galvae nizedsheet-iron.7

I propose that the length of conduit be- IOO IIO

IIS

massa s tween working-pits shall be about five hundred feet, more orless, as may be desired. Each section of casing, shelves, and wires willthere fore be about that length to reach from workingpit to working-pit.I can place my working-pits at a distance considerably more or less thanthat named, but have mentioned that distance as being practicable andeconomical. Although it may be generally desirable to locate aworking-pit at each street-crossing, so as to forni a terminal f'orcross-lines of conduits at those points, still the conduit can be laidso as to cross any street without terminating at such a point in aworking-pit, and workingpits may be located intermediately between tocross streets whenever desired. l prefer, when practicable, to lay mycond uit-casing at a depth ot about two feet from the surface of theground. I name this distance, as frost will not do any material injuryto my device or the wires, and as the gas and water service in most ot'the cities in the northern latitudes is laid ata considerably greaterdepth, to be below what is known as the frost-line, all interference.with such gas, water, and other service will be avoided in laying myconduit at the depth of said two feet.

As to the location in the street for my conduit, l prefer to lay it atthe side of the street, just outside of the curbstone, thus avoiding thenecessity of disturbing expensive sidewalk-pavements when layingconduits or when making any subsequent connection with the conduit forhouse or other service. Nevertheless, when occasion may require, or itmay be for some local reason preferable, l lay my conduit beneath thesidewalk, near the curb, or next the t'ront wall of the houses, orthrough the cellars, at or near the inside ot' the front wall; or I cansupport it upon poles or other supports at suitable distances apart. Thecontraction and expansion ot' the conduit incident to changesofteinperature are taken up in theloose-iittingjoints between thelockingprojections of the conduit, as heretofore described. 'Ihe pitchfor drainage. heretofore referred to, I would generally make conform tothat of the street, whether such pitch or depression is from oneworking-pit to the other or from midway of such workingpits both ways ofeach of such pits, the objectbeingin all cases to form, in laying theconduit, no hollows therein for the accumulation of stagnant water.

For the purpose of effecting an entrance to the conduit for the purposeof making electrical connection to a streetlight or building, tc., Iprovide the conduit-case A, at suitable distances apart,withhand-opening D at its top, or D at its side, which, when the conduitis laid, is capped with a tlanged plate, d, if at the top, orslide-plate d', adapted t0 beinserted into grooves d, if at the side.When itis desired at any time after the conduit is laid to make a branchconnection t'orstreet or house service, the street above one of thesehandholes is excavated as for gas or water service,

the cap d or slide d', as the case may be, is removed, and a wire, beingrun from the working-pit trom which such conduit leads, is con nectedwith a suitable wire, also run from the place of service, and preferablyinclosed in a tube or case, c, from building' to conduit, so as toafford ready passage for any other subsequent wires therethrough,if'sodesired. When the conduit is laid next to the wall of a building orvault under sidewalk, the hand-holes D or D can be readily reached forbranch connection by simply cutting a hole through the wall at suchpoint, thus avoiding the necessity of excavating; or when the conduit islaid through buildings, as above intimated, the covers for hand-holescan be securely fastened in place to prevent tampering with the contentsof conduit. It is not necessary in my improved conduit or system oflaying wire therein, when such conduit is laid through buildings orsidewalk-vaults, to trespass upon private property for the purpose ofrunning wires from one work-pit to another, and serv ice-connection canat any time be made therewith without necessitating any excavating orthe cutting through of walls in so doinfr. As the shelves and wires allhave to be inserted in the conduit from the working-pits, I will nowdescribe their construction.

rlhe views shown in Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 2, and 1l and 12, Sheet 3,illustrate the manner of construction.

The working-pit F is dug about seven feet deep by about four andone-haltA feet in diameter, or across, if square, and they may be round,square, or any desired shape. As strong electric currents` will becontinuously passing through them, l prefer to line each of them willimetalsay cast-iron-to furnish a good conductor to the ground, as atf,Figs. 9,10, and 1l. They may be lined with niasonry,if desired, and thehooks or racks, which support the wires passing from conduit to conduitin the pit, may be connected with the ground by metal rods or plates, tocarry otfthe excess of induced electricity. A removable man-hole cover,G, ot' suitable form or shape, closes each ofthese pits at the top.rIhis cover is furnished with a glass bulls e\e or eyes, g, to givelight to the workman within, and also with an opening or openings, g',to effect ventilation. Each man-hole cover over every working-pit isfurnished with openings, and, since it is designed to place aworking-pit so ventilated atan average of every four or tive hundredfeet of conduit A in my system, it is apparent that a continuous supplyot fresh air will be furnished and allowed to circulate not only throughmy working-pits, but through the hollow conduits A, which open into thevarious pits, thus preventing the gathering of any foul air. A thoroughand systematiccirculation ot' air is sustained throughout the wholesystem thereby. lt' one working-pit for any reason has to be kept closedpermanently or temporarily, the general circulation from other pitshaving openings will nevertheless IOO keep the air pure. It will ofcourse be understood that the distances of pits from each other may hemuch Varied from that which l have mentioned. Eight hundred, a thousandor more feet may be, span the distance from pit to pit; but the numerousopeningsin inanhole covers will still support the circulation of air.lTo lieep out dirt, a pan or pans, H, are sustained in an open frame.under these openings g', which, when the cover G- is removed, will alsohave. to he removed before the workman can enter. rIhus the pans may beemptied ot' their contents every time the pitis opened. An ordinarywaste-pipe or opening, I, below leads to the street-sewer, a pit, or toleach away into the ground to permit the escape of water, either thatofcondensation eoming from the casings A or that coming from othersources. Each pit is furnished with aworli-shelf, J, for the workman,and tools may be kept there. or brought along for use. This work-shelfalso serves as a step to assist the workman in entering and departingfrom the pit F. The pit shown in Figs. 9, 10, 12, 20, and 21, is, I willsay, at the corner of a street, with its opening, it' possible, justinside the curb in the sidewalk, to avoid the entry of street orglitter' water. (See Fig. l2, Sheet 3.) As will be seen in Fig. Il,there are four casings or conduits A, opening` into this pit fromdiiierent directions.

Having thus set forth the construction of the. casing or conduits A andthe man-holes and pits and the manner in which the shelves are inserted,I will now describe the manner of inserting the insulated wire.

The wii'e I :use is such as is suitable for telegraplis, telephones,electric lights, singly or in cable form, and is coated with alion-conductingmaterial, then covered with aflexible metal, preferablylead, as a i'irotection tothe insulating` substance from the effects ofmoisture or abrasion, and to carry off induced currents.

It is a fact well known to those familiar with the subject of theconduction of electricity through wires, that when a number of suoliwires are carried in close proximity to each other they cannot be toowell insulated, and that even so insulated the induced electric currentsthus set up in adjacent. wires is such as to materially aii'ect theirproper' conduct., and that it is essential that each such electric wire,in addition to its insulator, should have some outside armor or goodconductor ofelectricity to convey the induction set np by the passageofelectric currents through the wire to the ground as readily aspossible.. Hence, the metallic casting or armor of the wires such as Ipropose using in my improved system heilig in direct contact with themetallic shell c and the shells c in contact with the. metal of theconduit-casing A, facility is ai'orded foriminmliately grounding allinduced currents arising from the passage of electricity thiough or overthe wires. rJhis insulated wire is well known to the trade and in thearts. It requires careful handling to insure the retention intact of itsinsulating` and protection coatings, and it is advisable to subject itto as little abrasive friction as possible.

ln the interior ot' the roof of each workingpit I showin place fourhooks, K K K l', Figs. 9 and 10, two ot' which are opposite each twoopposite openingsgof conduits in suoli position that a reel suspendedfrom the hooks will hang` opposite the said two openings. rlhe operatorbrings with hiin his tools and the doiihle reel. The wheels forming thedouble reels are hung in one frame L, (see Figs, 9 and 10,) and theupper wheel, M, has wound upon it the insulated wire m, while the lowerone, N, ca rries the Iiexible flat taps a, preferably of steel, cfacharacter similar to that used bysurveyors, forming a carrier for thewhole wire. (See also Figs. 13, llt, and I5, Sheet 3) The tape it isfurnished, at suitable intervals to prevent the wire leaving it, withsaddles a', in which and npoii the tape the insulated wire rests as thotapeand it together are drawn into thecasingA. This frame L and its reelor reels is suspended by the ends of its cross-piece Z from two ofthehooks, as shown in Figs. 9 and l0, Sheet 2,op posite to the opening` ot'the casing A, which is to be furnished with a wire. A guide-needle, O,(see Figs. 16, 17, 1S, 19, Sheet. 4;) is furnished at each end withsuitable grips or clamps, pp', and beneath with horizontaloutwardly-projecting side friction-rollers, 1)p", the rollers p servingto ease the friction et' the needle O against the wires already l-.iidupon one side, and the rollers 17 answering the same purpose upon theother side. One of these guide-needles O is now clamped by IOC one. ofits ends, p, to the near end of one ofL the draw-wires lying on thebottom of theconiiished with a wire, and the other end, p', of theneedle is clamped to the adjoining ends ot' the insulated wire in and ofthe tape a. which sustains or carries such wire m. rlhe operator in thenext work-pit then draws upon his end ot the drawwvire, having beenwarned through the casing as though in a speakingtube, and the insulatedwire isdrawii in place. As a pi'ecautioii against depriving the shelf ofits draw-wire, another draw-wire is attached to the last end of thedraw-wire being` used before the latter is drawn through, or to theneedle, and allowed to remain upon the shelf, ready for the nextoperation. The operator whodrew the wire through then detaches theneedle O. Having secured the forward end of the electrical wire m, thetape is withdrawn, and the insulated wire is then ready for attachmentto any other wire, or to a house, street-lamp, or other connection, ifit be for the purpose ot' an electric light, or to a tele-`graph-instruinent connection or telephone-instrument, as the case maybe; or it' it is desired to carry it still farther to a distantconnection, another section is inserted into the entrance to the nextconduit. A needle t) is aiiachcd to its ends and to that of acarrierviz., tape a', having saddles iz. A needle 0 IlO is then clampedupon the end of another drawwire, and the operation above described isrepeated, and so on until the far end of lthe electric wire has reachedits terminus in the conduit opposite an opening, when it is to branchtherefrom for street or house service. 'hen the distance to which thewire m is so shortas not to have its metallic armor materially abraded,the use ot' the carrier An may be dispensed with Ain drawing the wirethrough or into the conduit. As the ioor ot' the conduit and the shelvesc are likely to be quite rough, the carrier a, which is so smooth as notto abrade the armor ot` the wire m when the carrier is withdrawn frombeneath the wire m, it is obvious that such wire can be laid on the.rough iioor and shelves of the conduit without inj ury to its metallicarmor or coating.

It' preferred, a draw-wire. after pulling the wire m and carriers nthrough the conduit, can hare its end attached to the end of thecarriers and be there withdrawn back again to be used in drawing a freshwire through the conduit. For the purpose ot' turning the reel N back soas to rewind thereon the carrier u, l show in dotted lines in Figs. 9,l0, and ll a handle, a, which I preferably make detachable from theshatt am ofthe reel N.

In Figs. 9, 11, and 22 I show a wire and carrier entering guideQ,secured at its wider end tothe reeli'rame L, at and on opposite sidesof the journal ofthe carrier-reel N, and jointed thereat, so as to beadapted to have its nose elevated or depressed at any desired angle forguiding the wire and its carrier to their place in the conduitregardless of the height of which the end of the conduit may enter theworking-pits. The shape ofthe guide is such that as the ,wire or carrierisunwound troni the reels in being drawn into the conduitwill cause thewire m to be laid inside the saddles a on the carrier u. The lower andupper ends ot' the nose of the guide Q rest against edge or ends of theconduit 0r shelves. The side cheeks of the nose ot the guide areextended sutliciently to enter a short distance into the end ot' theconduit, so as io hold the nose in its place while the wire, Ste., arebeing fed into the conduit and while the carrier is being withdrawntherefrom. This guide also forms a shield for the protection ot' thewires already in place entering or leaving` the conduit from beingabraded by the passage ofthe wire and its carrier while being t'ed intoplace in the conduit.

ln the feeding-needle l show an open space or slot, g, with a view tolighten its weight, and also to serve for the purpose of inserting abrush for clearing or cleaning a part ot' the wire and carrier, ifrequired, and also t'or holding a sponge or waste saturated with somesuitable lubricant tor reducing the friction of the wire-carrier whenbeing drawn through the conduit, or a lubricant ot a soit solid naturemay be laid therein, as may be found de- Sirable.

The reel-frame L with its reels M N and carrier n, guideneedle O, andguide Q are portable tools, which the operator can carry with him fromone pit to another, as he desires, and hence the necessity of having ineach pit any fixtures or mechanism made permanent therein for workingthe wires is avoided.

My improved system enables the ruiming of wire along` the streets ofcities without necessarily iiupeding the travel therethrough in sodoing, as all work can be entirely beneath the street-surface.

As the vertical dimensions of the conduit need not be more than a 't'ewinches` in depthsay from three to six inchesand ot' any desired width,according to the number of wires it may be desired to accommodate, it isobvious that it can niuch easier pass obstruction s such as pipes,etc.-t,han itl it were ot' considerably greater depth7 and in case theexcavating ot' a trench in rock for the conduit should. be necessary itwill only require the making such trench very shallow.

rlhe details ot' my construction being thus set forth, l will describetheir combination, or the relation which they will occupy to each otherin practice, so as to constitute a system.

Sheet 5 ot' the drawings shows the arrangement ot' my conduits and thewires and the styles ci branching ot'f and carrying them into andthrough buildings.

A is the conduit containing the wires; Gr, the covers tc the man-holesover the working-pits. R R', are branches l'rom the main conduit intothe buildings S S S SU. The branch R passes from a conduit-openingin theworkingpit, beneath the cover G, into the building S, through thecellar-wall of the latter at a point at about two feet beneath thesurface of the sidewalk. The wire sobranched ott' passes into thecellarot' the building S, and thence through ille dividing cellar-walls intobuildings or houses S 5 on about a horizontal line, R. Short branchesare then made from the wire or line R up into the buildings,pi'eferal'ily close against the inside ot' the front walls ot' thelatter, which latter branches pass upward to an electric light.telephone, or telegraphic instrument, as the case maybe. Ata. shortdistance above the plane of the sidewalk, in the iront wall ofthebuilding, apolygon al head or boxflf, projects, upon or in which a keycan be fitted to turn it. This head or box is connected within with aswitch upon the electric wire opposite to which itis set, whereby theelectric entrent t'rom the wire l can be checked or stopped oft' t'i'onicommunication or use in the building in the wall ot which such switch isplaced, while the adjoining building can be uiiinterruptediy suppliedwith the electric current passing along the wire R. By these means anyone or more buildings in a block can be separately cut ott" from theoutside, at pleasure, from use ot' the current without interfering withothers.

'D represents the cnrbstone bounding the sidewalkot' a block ot'buildings, the workingpit being at the corner, beneath the cover G,

IOO

and the conduit A being` set immediately outside and below the level ofthe curbstone T.

U at one corner of the sidewalk represents an opening from a shortbranch from the main conduit, upon which the street electric lamp, withits supportingpost, can be set. It shows abranch from the main conduitto a single building for any of the purposes above named. The manner ofmaking these branches R or U is as follows: In making the branch atR orU, which I denominate a local branch.;7 as it is from a point lyingbetween two working-pits, I iirstexcavatethegrouudimmediatelyabovetheconduit until I reach the latter, and then open a cap, slide, or gate inthe latter, such as is shown at d, Fig. l, or at al', Fig. 4, Sheet 1. Iwill here interpolate that in laying my wires in the conduits l preferto place all my wires which are to be used locally or between manholesupon the upper shelfotl the conduit, and the through-lines of wires uponthe shelves beneath when the. hand-hole is at top of conduit. (See D,Fig. l.) Any local wire can then be easily carried out of theconduitfrom the top of the latter, as shown at D, Fig. 1, through thebranch e without disturbing its neighboring wires, whether it he takenfrom one or the other side ofthe conduit; or, if preferred, the localwires can be laid upon each or every shelf; but in such case they shouldalways be placed upon that side of the shelf from which they are likelyto be drawn for branches, so as not to interfere with others, and thethrough-wires should belaid upon the other sides of the shelves. In thelatter event I should use the side slide or gate shown at d',

' Fig 4. It is ot' course presumed that the operator employed to makethese branches and to super-intend the practical operation of the systemshall be either a competent engineer or one so skilled in the businessas to be able to exercise a superiorjlnlgment in manipulating thevarious constructions required. After the conduit is reached byexcavating, the cap d, Fig. l, say, is removed. A hole is then madethrough the cellar-wall of the house to be furnished with a wire,opposite the excavation above mentioned, and an earth-boring tool isthen used to bore a hole from the cellar to the opening for the branchpipe c in the boX D, the other end being placed in the end of the holejust bored, the boring-tool having been withdrawn. An electric insulatedwire is then drawn upon the shelf from which the branch is to be made bymeans of a draw-wire in the manner before described, and when the wirehas been drawn through the conduit to the point where box D is situatedit is drawn out and forced through the brauch pipe e and the bore-d holeinto the cellar, where it can be connected with a wire or wiresconducting to any part of the building, or with a section of wire, inaddition, cond acting to adjoining buildings, as above described withreference to connection-wire It".

It' preferred,instead of forcing the wire from the conduit throughbranch e and the hole to the house, a short section of insulated wirecan be forced from the cellar through the boring or hole to the conduit,and connection can I there be made between the section ot' wire sodriven and thewire in the conduit. When the connection of theconduit-wire with the interior of the building is completed the cap d isreplaced over boxD and the excavation is filled up. Then a bra-uch suolias is shown at B, Fig. 20, Sheet 5, is to be made, a hole is bored fromthe cellar to the working-pit under the manhole cover G, and wire forcedthrough the hole to the pit, as above dcscribed with reference to branchc, and the connection with the building is made from the manhole. Thedip of the conduit from one pit to another for drainage of the conduitis shown in the View Fig. 22, Sheet, where two working-pits, F F, areshown, showing the depression iu the line of conduit from right to left.

In my system all kinds of wire can be laid side by side upon the sameshelf-viz., telephonie, electric, and telegraphic wires. The shelves andconduit-easing being of metal, and each wire being insulated and thencoated with metal, there is at all points ofthe linea continuons,direct, and immediate metallic ground-connection from the wires, whichwill instantly carryoff and ground any induced electric currentarisingat any point. Therefore a strong electric current passing, I will say,through an electric-light wire, will not interfere with the action of aweak current passing through telcphonic wires laid upon the same shelfimmediately besidcit. 1t will also beobserved that a singlewire can belaid in the conduits for any desired distance with even greater speedand safety than it can beset upon poles. This feature of my inventionenables the owners of the system to lay single wires from time to time,as necessity arises, without tealing up streets for long distances toaccomplish it, and ohviates the necessity for laying a greatnumber ofaires when making the conduits in expectation or anticipation ofpossibly long delayed future demands, and thus allowing a large capitalto remain invested and useless for long periods.Byletteringornumberingtheshelves and numbering each wire as it is laidupon its shelf, and then noting its destination, a complete record canbe kept, and any wire can he immediatelyidentified at any working-pit.An inspector can thus, by referring to his pocketrecord of the wiresduly numbered, tell the destination of any wire in the whole system, andby means of the map ofthe system and its wires can by reference theretotrace the direction and course traversed by any wire in all the turningsit may take, what streets it passes through, and what. corners it turns.

The working-pits can be lighted by any ordinary means or by an electriclight. If a hand-lantern be used by the operator, he can support it uponthe workbench in the pit or suspend it from one ofthe hooks overhead.Thislighting may be necessary for night-work,

IOO

IIS

or when the light from the bnlls-eyes in man-hole covers is i'ound to beinsufficient. Work can thus be carried on in the pits at all hours oftheday or night.

I purpose covering in a separate patent the conduit formed of castsections or plates in the form ot' channel-iron, (thus E.) thelongitudinaljoints being formed in the middle ot' the top and bottom ot'the conduit.

I am well aquainted with the device shown in English Patent No. 2,759ot' 1859, and do not claim that device, as each shelf therein is made upof disconnected sections or pieces longitudinally. By my system ofruiming or passing abranch wire from the conduit to one of a row ofbuildings, then passing a connecting-wire horizontally through theothers, and passing a separate wire upward from this horizontal wireinto each building, such separate wire being furnished with a switchpassing through the front wall of the building to the outside, I amenabled to shut oft the supply ot' electric iiuid from any building atwill without disturbing the supply to the rest, and only one break inthe conduit is required for the branch. Atthe same time the supply canbe broken off from any one building from the outside thereof', it'desired. This device I shall protect by a separate patent.

1. A platefA, composed of a full side and two similarly-projectingtlanges, the latter being furnished with projecting hooks b' b", lockedas described, formed thereon, whereby, when the plate is united to asimilar opposite plate at its edges by means of the lockingpieces b b",a hollow conduit will be formed, thejoint between the long meeting edgesot' the plates passing longitudinally about halt'A way across at the topand bottom ot the space inclosed, substantially as described.

2. A conduit or casing, A,t'or subterranean electric wires, havingseveral passages side by side (see Fig. 6, Sheet l) formed ot' plates,the middle ones of which are shaped like short sections of girder-iron,(L) and the outer plates to close and complete the outer passages shapedlike short sections ot'channel-1ron,([,) said plates being furnishedwith suitable tastenings to unite them to each other, said plates beingformed ot' cast-iron, and having cast upon their vertical webs theinside ribs, c, for the purposes described, whereby, when the platesarejoined together to form conduit, the inside ribs, c, are opposite toeach other, the inclosed passages for the wires being formed by themeeting of the opposite tianges or long edges of the various plates,substantially as described.

3. Acond uit, A, for conveying subterranean electric wires, composed ofopposite plates A A",so constructed that by the meeting of their edgesan inclosed passage-way is formed, each plate being` furnished atsuitable points upon its long edges with hooks b b', projecting 'forwardover the edge, whereby, when the edges the l ofopposite plates arebroughtinto contact, the

hooks of one plate pass slightly beyond and adjacent to those ot' theopposite plate, adapted to be there held by a pin, b", and the oppositeplaies are thus secured against parting until the pin b'", it used, isremoved, substantially as described.

4. A conduit, A, for conveying subterranean electric wires, composed ot'opposite plates A A", so constructed that bythe meeting ot' their edgesan inclosed passage-way is formed, each plate being furnished uponitslong edges with forwardly-projecting lips tta, whicl1,when the edgesol" opposite plates meet, overlap alternately, tirst from one platethenA from the other, upon the edge of the oppositeplate over the jointformed by the meeting edges, substantially as described.

5. A conduit, A, for conveyingor conducting subterranean electric wires,composed ofopposite plates Al A, so constructed that by the meeting ot'their edges an inclosed passageway is tormed, each plate being furnishedat suitable points upon its long edges with hooks b b', projectingforward over the edge, whereby, when the edges ot'opposite plates arebrought into contact, the hooks of one plate pass slightly beyond andadjacent to those of the opposite plate, adapted to be there held by apin, b", to hold the plates together, each plate also being providedupon its long edge, between the hooks b b', with forwardly-projectinglips c a", which, when the edges of opposite plates meet, overlapalternately, tirst from one plate and then from the other, upon the edgeot' the opposite plate, thus covering thejoint formed bythe meetingedges, spaces being left between the lips c a" of one plate to receivethe lips from the edge ofthe opposite plate, substantially as described.

G. In a conduit, A, for conveying subterranean electric wires, a systemof continuous plain, fiat, thin,side ribs, c, cast upon the oppositesides of the conduit A, adapted to support the shelves c',whereby, whenthe shelves are drawn into place, the continuity ofthe ribs will notprevent points or ends against which the shelves may abut in being drawnin, substantially as described.

7. A conduit or casing, A, for conveying or conducting subterraneanelectric wires, said casing or conduit being composed of plates A A,Src., and each of said plates being furnished with continuous internalside ribs cast upon the inside of the vertical portions ofthe plates andintegral therewith, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In combination with a conduit or casing, A, for cond uctingsubterranean electric wires, a` continuous iiexible sheet-metal shelf,c', set upon suitable side supporting-ribs, c, in the conduit A tosustain the electric wires, substantially as described.

9. In a conduit, A, for conducting subterranean electric wires, a shelt'or shelves, c', formed ot' separate sections of metal joined IOO ICS

IIS

and attached one to the other, whereby the shelves are adapted to bedrawn into the conduits and be sustained upon suitable supportine; ribs,c, in distinction to being' pushed in, substantially as described.

1t). Inasystemot'subterraneanelectricwires, in the continuous carrier n,for carrying' the electric wire from the point ot' its entrance into aconduit, A, throughout its traverse in said conduit, said carrier beine'provided with suitable side supports, u', for the. wire, whereby thelatter is prevented t'rom rolling' ctt' laterally, by means ot' whichcarrier the wire is supported and preserved for its whole length fromi'rictional contact with thc snrface upon u hich it is to be laid,substantially as described.

11. In combination with a system ot subterranean conduits in whichelectric wires are to be laid, a guide-needle, 0, broaderin dialneterthan the electric wire .to be laid, adapted to be attached at one end tothe latter, and at the other end a suitable mechanism for dra wing itand its attached electric wire through the conduit, whereby the wirebeing drawn through the conduitis guided in its course, and

, has a lane or clear path made for it through or between wires whichmay already have been laid upon the same surface, substantially asdescribed.

12. ln cotnbination with a system ot' subterranean conduits in whichelectric wires are to be laid, the needle 0, provided at one or both ot'its ends with a clamp or clamps, P P', as and for the purposesdescribed.

13. In combination with a system of subterranean conduits into whichelectric wires are to be laid, a needle, 0, provided with sidefriction-rollers, P Pf, the said needle, with its rollers, beine; widerthan the diameter ot' the wire to be laid, the rollers serving todecrease the friction of the needle upon any wires already laid andbetween 'which it may be passing, substantially as described.

14. 1n combination with a system of' silbterranean conduits in whichelectric wires are to be laid, a needle, 0, adapted to be attached tothe end ot' an electric wire to be drawn C through the conduit, andprovided with a slot or opening', q, in which graphite orother snitablelubricating' materials may be placed to luhricate the path otl the wirebeing` drawn by the needle to avoid abrasion of the wires, substantiallyas described.

15. In combination with a system ot' subterranean conduits in whichelectric wires are to be laid, a continuous carrier, a, l'or the wire,provided with suitable side supports, 'it'. to preserve the wire t'romfrictioual contact with the surface beneath, aut` a needle, 0, broader than the carriera or the diameter ot' the wire to be laid, and adapted tograsp the ends ot' the wire and carrier it and draw them through bymeans ot' suitable mechanism attached to the needle t), while at thesame time the latter, by its breadth, clears a path between wiresalready laid and preserves the latter from frictional contact with thecarrier n and its supercumbent wire, substantially as described.

16. In combination with the conduit A, the rcel N, carrier n, and theguide, which is suitably supported to receive the carrier from saidreel,and converges from the partnext the reel to a narrow exit, saidexit end ofthe guide Q being` adapted to be placed in the entrance ot' aconduit, whereby, as the carrier n is drawn ot't' from its reel` it iskept in proper position to receive. the electric wire m upon its uppersurface, and to enable the latter to rest iu or between its sidesupport, a', substantially as described.

17. A conduit, A, t'or conveying subterranean electric wires, composedot'opposite plates A A" A, die., so constructed that by a meeting'ottheir longer edges au inclosed passageway is formed between them, theplates being;` so joined that the end joints ot' the plates upon oneside break joint with the end joints of those ofthe othersitle-\'iz.,the joint oferery two plates ofoue side-ot' the conduit beingioppositeto the bodyv ot' a single plate ot' the other sidethereof-substantiall)1 as described.

JAMES 'lllOliN GOODFELLOW.

Witnesses:

W. H. JoHNs'roNE, GEORGE E. BUGKLEY.

